Gramma's Car: the new project! - Page 18

**njsteve** · #**171** 09-07-2015, 08:56 PM

It's a slow day 'round here so me and the boy decided to play with the block. I showed him how to properly install the main bearings in the journals. (and made him read the tiny stamped print on the back of each bearing shell to verify that they were all the correct .010 undersize bearings).

We also painted the block with some of the leftover Bill Hirsch, Inc., engine paint that I had from when we did the 350. (1975/6 Pontiacs were painted a unique metallic blue color that looks very similar to Oldsmobile Blue engine paint. We used a sponge brush and it came out great. The stuff dries slowly enough so that no brush marks appear anywhere.

**KevinW** · #**172** 09-07-2015, 10:16 PM

oooooh, shiny paint! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

MarcDant · #**173** 09-08-2015, 12:25 AM

Are you building that to stock specs.Looks like a nice project.Keep up the good work.

**njsteve** · #**174** 09-08-2015, 12:31 AM

Not stock. They barely had any horsepower in 1975. Around 155 for the 350 and 200 for the 455. This one should be around 400 horses or so and 500 lbs of torque. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

**cook_dw** · #**175** 09-08-2015, 12:12 PM

Ive always liked that blue.. Reminds me of LeMans.. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

**njsteve** · #**176** 09-08-2015, 05:26 PM

Over the past couple years several people have asked me why I painted the engine the same color as the car. Just a coincidence that they look like the same color. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

**njsteve** · #**177** 09-10-2015, 08:06 PM

Crank and the rest of the internals are all finished with balancing and ready to go.

**scuncio** · #**178** 09-10-2015, 09:28 PM

Nice. What did you do with the rods?

**njsteve** · #**179** 09-10-2015, 11:14 PM

They reconditioned them - they were a little out of round on the big ends so they shaved the cap mating surfaces and then honed them to proper circular dimensions. They also have ARP bolts installed. Everything all balanced up to match the crank. Probably a lot of overkill for an engine that won't be turning much RPMs but trying to teach the boy that you should do it properly the first time, so you don't have to do it over again a couple years later. Unless, of course you want to in order to make two or three times the horsepower. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

**Ryan1969Chevelle** · #**180** 09-10-2015, 11:30 PM

Sounds right to me!!!

Can I stop by when you are bored with a W-31?

Ryan

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